Jaguars Insider: Dwayne Gratz may be turning corner

Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz runs onto the field during a game against the Browns on Dec. 1 in Cleveland.

Up until two dynamite plays during an 11-on-11 drill during Thursday’s OTA workout, Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz was having a quiet few weeks.

Why that was good: Gratz wasn’t being regularly beaten by the Jaguars’ depleted group of receivers.

Why that wasn’t so good: Gratz flashed last year by being around the football (although the statistics — two interceptions and two pass break-ups — don’t illustrate that) so where were the INTs?

But during the Jaguars’ ninth and final OTA, Gratz knifed in front of tight end Marcedes Lewis to break up a pass and later in the workout, played a pass intended to Lewis well enough for it to fall incomplete near the sideline.

“I think I’ve had a good month,” Gratz said. “It always takes time, especially at the cornerback position, to build that confidence that you need. But I think I’ve built up enough to play at a high level. It took me a little while to get things together, but I think I’m doing pretty decent.”

It was interesting analysis from Gratz, whose rookie year was derailed by ankle injuries in Weeks 1 and 16. He is far from a boaster, but also came to the Jaguars with every intention to play well right away.

“He’s a perfectionist,” coach Gus Bradley said. “It’s very important for him to do it right every play. He’s very hard on himself and I think at times, he becomes frustrated because he wants to make more plays. He has to understand to just keep doing his job and those plays will come to him.

“He’ll get his opportunities and then we’ll see him make the play.”

Relayed Bradley’s analysis, Gratz agreed.

“I want to make plays, but I just have to do my job,” Gratz said.

The Jaguars need Gratz to be a starter-quality corner opposite Alan Ball because Will Blackmon is better suited to be a part-time player, Demetrius McCray played very little last year and Jeremy Harris didn’t play at all.

Red zone recap

During the Jaguars’ high school coaching clinic last Wednesday, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said (and later confirmed) the team led the NFL in last year’s final eight games by scoring on 95 percent of its red zone possessions.

The Jaguars had 21 red zone trips in games 9-16: Thirteen touchdowns, seven field goals and one turnover. It was a product of better execution and of being in the game — the Jaguars weren’t forced to go for it on fourth down.

In games 1-8, the Jaguars had 20 red zone trips: Five touchdowns, seven field goals and a whopping eight empty possessions (including five failed fourth-down attempts).

For the year, the Jaguars ranked last in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage (43.9) and red zone scoring percentage (75.6). But the last eight games provided reason for optimism.

Fullback has a place

In a Sports On Earth article last week, Hall of Fame coach John Madden said the fullback position in pro football “for all intents and purposes has been eliminated. Every team is basically [a] one-back [formation].”

Kinda, sorta.

The Jaguars still feel the fullback plays a part in their offense. Will Ta’ufo’ou is back this year and Bradie Ewing was claimed off waivers from Atlanta in late March.

Ta’ufo’ou played 300 of 1,056 snaps (28.4 percent) last year and had one carry and 10 receptions.

“We do have a place for [the fullback],” Bradley said.

“I think some teams, you’re seeing a lot of spread-type sets, but in our offense, we have a place and they have great value. … It’s not the biggest part of our package, but it was some importance.”

Three & out

■ The Jaguars’ first two minicamp practices this week (Tuesday and Wednesday) will be open to fans from 1:10-3:30 p.m. The Jaguars will also have caravan stops in Palm Coast (Thursday), Oviedo (Friday), Port Orange (Saturday), Brunswick, Ga. (June 26) and Tallahassee (June 27).

■ The Jaguars playing a preseason home game away from Jacksonville makes sense. Fans rightfully loathe paying full freight for a preseason game so there wouldn’t be much resistance to moving a game to Orlando or, as was debated last week, the Daytona International Speedway.

■ Of the 90 players on the roster for the final OTA, 57 weren’t on the roster when training camp started last July.